Disc-dialing keyless lock



rivm A v 4 u May 12, 1959 l H.' B. sYLER 2,885,881

msc-DIALING KEYLEss Loox Filed Oct. 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Harrison B. Syler ATTORNEY May 12, 1959 H. B. sYLER DISC-DIALING KEYLESS LOCK zshe'ets-snet 2 Filed oct. 4, 1954 Y lllIIlIIllIll/llllllllll u: "mi

INVENTOR' Harrison B. Syler ATTORNEY;

United States Patent() DISCDIALING VKEYLESS LOCK HarrisonB. Syler, Los ngeles, Calif. Application October 4, 1954, ySerial No. 460,085 z `(Cl. 70-146) This invention relates lto keyless or combination locks and more particularly to a disc-dialing `keyless lock. A disc-dialing keyless lock, but of `a 1dileren't construction, is disclosed in myapplication lfor U.S. Patent, Serial No. 45 2,933, tiled Aug. 30, l95'4'and ynow abandoned.

An important object of this invention is to provide a disc-dialing -keyless lock in which practically all the mechanism of the lock is disposed within lock plates.

Another important object -is to provide a lock -as referred to above, in which the mechanism may be preassembled at the factory.

.Still another important object is Ito :provide a ldisc-dialing keyless lock which may be readily vattached to la closure, as a door, with the -attaching means comprising 'two nut and bolt assemblies, one of which `performs an additional function.

A further important 'object is to provide -a lock of the disc-dialing keyless Ytype which may be constructed mostly of sheet metal, has relatively `few parts and these may be replaced readily when worn or broken.

An additional object is to provide a disc-dialing lock which may be manipulated in the absence of illumination to `open the `closure to which it is attached, and which locks automatically.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will Ybe apparent during the course yof the following detailed description of the invention, takenin connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming portions of this disclosure, and in Whichdrawings:

Fig. 1 Vis a vertical transverse section-of a fragment of a closure with one form of the disc-dialing keyless lock attached thereto andshown -in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a vertialfsection at the indoor :portion of the lock of Fig. l, substantially on-theline '2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section at the portion of the lock of Fig. l opposite to that portion of Fig. -2 and taken `substantially on the'line .lj-'3 ofi-Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 =is a 'horizont-al section'substantially on the-line 44-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an outer face View ofthe dials vof the lock of Figs. 1-4. l

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of a closure and disc-dialing keyless lock, being a modification of the lock of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the lock of Fig. 6, correspending somewhat to the position Vof the section of Fig. 3.

Fig. '8 is a horizontal section, substantially on the line lS---S of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragment of the ldial face and associated structure of the lockof Figs. 16, 7 and 8.

In the drawings, wherein for .the purpose 'of illustration are shown two embodiments of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the Aletter A `designates a closure; B, one formof the invention; C, a second closure and D, a second form of the invention.

The closure Amay be a conventional vertically-hung rice door having the opposite side faces 10 and 11. The face 10 may be regardedvas the indoor face thereof. There is also a vertical end face 12 joining the faces 10 and 11.

Upon the closure A is mounted or attached the discdialing keyless lock B which latter includes the lock plates 15 and 16 having body portions 17 and 18 respectively and inwardly-extending substantially border ilanges 19 `and 26 respectively. The outer or free lends of the llanges abut the faces of the closure YA. From one of the two vertical portions of the flange 19, i.e., the portion nearest the end face 12, extends a plate portion 21 in face contact with a part of the face 10, as best shown in Fig. 4, and from one Iof `the two vertical portions of the flange 20, i.e., the portion nearest the end face 12, extends a plate portion 22 part of which is in face contact with a part of the faces 11 and l2 and which also includes an inturned ange portion 23 at a slot 24 formed in the portion 22 to slidably accommodate a bolt member 37 of the latch 4bolt means 3) to be subsequently described.

Means 25 for attaching the lock plates 15 and 16 together and to the closure A may be two nut and bolt assemblies 26 and 27, portions of the Shanks of which extend through suitable openings in the bodies of the lock plates 15 and 16 and closure A. The nuts 28 and 29 of the assemblies 26 and 27 respectively bear, of course, upon the outer face of the indoor lock plate 15. Preferably, the heads of the bolts are rounded. The assembly 26 has other functions as Will be subsequently detailed.

Latch bolt means 30 carried almost wholly within a part ofthe space defined by the body portion 17, anges 19 and face 10, includes the bolt structure 31 which pref erably comprises a polygonal body portion 32 provided with an upper substantially at horizontal face 33, opposite vertical faces 34 and and rear face 35a slidable over the Aface 10. Projecting from the face 34 lis a substantially horizontally-slidable cylindrical portion 36 and projecting from the face 35 is a substantially horizontally slidable bolt member 37, the outer free end of vwhich -is adapted to slide into and out `of the conventional opening 38 in a strike plate 39 carried by the closure frame. The cylindrical portion 36 lis adapted to slidably extend into an exteriorly screw threaded vsleeve 40, detachably attached by its screw threads to the screw threaded wall of an opening 41 in the other of the vertical flanges 19. An expansion coil spring 42 extends about lthe innermost part of the cylindrical portion 36, bearing at one end against the body portion 32 and bearing at the other end upon the inner edge of the sleeve 40. Movement of the body portion 32 to the right, as in Fig. 2, is arrested by the face 35 contacting the adjacent vertical portion of the flange 19.

The means 30 also includes the cam member 43 having the two oppositely-extending normally generally vertically disposed wings 44 and with cam faces or surfaces 45. The cam member 43 is ixedly mounted, at its hub or central portion upon a conventional door handle spindle 46 and the cam surfaces are adapted to bear against an outwardly-extending shoulder part 47 of the body portion 32 which -has faces 48 normally in engagement with the cam faces 45, substantially `as in Fig. 2. However, upon partial rotation of the spindle 46 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 2, the lowermost cam face 45 will cause the freed body portion 32 to move to the left as in that gure and this will ultimately withdraw the bolt member 37 from its strike plate. To Ifacilitate this movement ofthe member 37, the latter may be horizontally slotted, as at 49 to accommodate the spindle 46 and hub or central portion of the cam member 43. Upon release of either knob or handle 50 or 51 which are conventionally carried -by the spindle 46, the spring 42 will cause the bolt member 37 to enter the opening in the strike plate 39 if the closure A is in a closed position.

The latch bolt means may be held against operation by the sub-latch means or cam member latch means 55, Which includes an elongated latch arm 56 having a shoulder 57 -at its inner end portion, which portion is pivoted to the body portion 17 of the lock plate 15 by the pivot pin 58. The shoulder 57 is adapted to engage the upper wing 44 at its face opposite its cam surface so as to prevent rotative movement of the cam member 43 in clockwise direction when the lever is in its lowermost position (as in full lines in Fig. 2). The Vfree end portion of the lever extends outwardly of the lock plate 15, through a suitable vertically-disposed slot 59 in the vertical portion of the adjacent flange 19. This slot, as best shown in Fig. 1, comprises a lower wide portion and an upper narrow portion. This arrangement is so that a leaf Spring 60, secured at one end portion to the latch arm 56, extending longitudinally thereof, and springing away therefrom, will bear ragainst a wall of the upper narrow portion of the slot and frictionally retain the latch arm fully raised, as in dots and dashes in Fig. 2, but, when the latch arm is to be manually lowered it will not prevent such lowering. Of course, normally, the lever -arm is raised to the position shown in the upper dash lines in Fig. 2 so that the shoulder 57 will just clear the face of the upper wing 44 and the lever arm will again pivot downwardly, by gravity, to the position shown in the lower dash lines in Fig. 2, when manually released, and, as the curved upper surface of the wing slides over the edge of the lever arm, and the wing comes to the position shown in Fig. 2 (urged by the spring 42), the shoulder will automatically engage the wing as in Fig. 2. The spring 42 may be readily replaced by unscrewing the sleeve 40 and this sleeve, of course has the additional function of providing a bearing for the cylindrical portion 36.

Referring now to the structure within and projecting from the lock plate 16 and shown particularly in the right-hand portion of Fig. 1, as well as in Figs. 3 and 5, is dialing means 65 associated with means to prevent opening of the closure A until the dialing means has been properly manipulated.

The dialing means 65 includes a first or inner dial which comprises a dial disc 66, disposed outwardly of but closely adjacent the lock plate 16, having a plurality of suitable indicia 67 preferably upon its outer face and adjacent its periphery. The disc also carries a suitable number of outwardly-extending spaced-apart projections 68 adjacent this periphery. In the example shown in Fig. 5, there are four such projections, spaced 90 apart. These provide finger holds, a convenient one of which is to be pressed lightly upon by the nger of the operator in order to steady the disc 66 against accidental rotation. The disc 66 is carried by a hollow shaft 69 extending through the body portion 18 of the lock plate 16.

Also forming a part of the dialing means 65 is a second dial which comprises an outer or dial disc 70 having, preferably, an arrow 71 upon its outer face for cooperation with the indicia 67 upon the dial disc 66. The dial disc 70 is also provided with an operating knob 72 integral therewith, and disc and knob are iixedly secured to a shaft 73, as by a set screw 74 and this shaft 73 extends through the body portion 18 and through the hollow shaft 69. At its inner end, the shaft 73 is journalled in a dual-function fixed guide and support plate 75 of channeled construction since it comprises a body portion adapted to extend over a portion of the side face 11 of the closure A, inwardly of the flanges 20, and having parallel, vertically-disposed flanges of its own extending in face contact with the vertical portions of the anges 20 with their outer edges 76 adapted to guide a sliding plate 91 to be subsequently described.

4 A guide member 77 is associated with the first dial disc 66 and may be a small plate disposed directly above the disc 66 carrying an arrow with its point adapted to cooperate with a selected indicium 67 of the dise 66. The small plate is carried by the shank of the nut and bolt assembly 26 and held by the head of this shank.

Mounted upon the hollow shaft 69 is a first slotted member 78 which is preferably a disc having a grooved periphery providing a plurality of substantially equally spaced-apart grooves 79 with the exception of a small portion 80 of the periphery which is substantially smooth. Extending radially from the periphery is an elongated slot 81 spaced from the smooth portion. The functions of the grooves, small portion 80 and slot will be subsequently explained.

Mounted upon the shaft 73, directly back of the first slotted member 78, is a second slotted member 82 which is preferably a disc, slightly larger in circumference than the disc of the lirst Slotted member, and also provided with a plurality of substantially equally spaced apart grooves 83, with the exception of a small smooth portion 84. A radially-extending elongated slot 85 extends from the periphery and is spaced from the' smooth portion 84. The function of these will be subsequently explained.

Referring again to the fixed guide and support plate 75, this may be secured by means of suitable screws 86 extending through its anges and into the vertically disposed flanges 20.

Means 90 to prevent opening of the closure A until the dialing means 65 has been properly manipulated and to aid in properly dialing by means of sound waves, includes a vertically-reciprocating sliding plate 91 which is adapted to slide along the outer edges 76 of the flanges of the xed guide and support plate 75 and to slide along the inner face of the body portion 18. Of course, the vertical edges of the plate 91 also slide over the inner faces of the vertical portion of the anges 20.

The plate 91 is provided with a vertically-extending slot 92, with its longitudinal axis coincident with the vertical central axis of the plate 91, and a lateral slot 93 extending from one side of the slot 92 intermediate the ends of the latter. 'I'he spindle 46 extends through the slot 92 and this spindle xedly mounts a hub 94 carrying an arm 95 from which projects a cylindrical pin 96 with its axis paralleling the axis of the hub and adapted to extend into the lateral slot 93. From Fig. 3 it will be appreciated that clockwise rotation of the spindle 46 will cause the pin 96 to move in an arc and raise the plate 91.

Carried by the plate 91 and projecting upwardly from its concave upper edge 97 is a dual function projection 98 which provides means to enter the two slots 81 and 85 when the two slots are side by side, and also means to cooperate with the grooves 79 and 83 to produce audible signals. The projection 98 is of resilient or somewhat springy metal and is of a width to be accommodated in the slots 81 and 85 when the latter are in alignment. The resiliency of the material of the projection permits its upper edge portion to spring from one groove 79 or 83, as the case may be to the next groove as the members 78 and 82 are rotated, thus producing a series of clicks Means 100 to elect automatic rotation of the dial disc 66 when the latter is released (as when a linger of the operator is removed from a projection 68 of the dial disc 66) so as to prevent an unauthorized person to note the unlocking position of the dial disc 66, includes a hub 101 integral with the first slotted member 78 which carries a set screw 102 to secure the hub to the hollow shaft 69. This hub 101 has a somewhat elliptical cross section, as may be appreciated from Fig. 3, and the free end portion of a resilient arm 103 is adapted to bear against and slide over the elliptical edge of the hub 101 as the latter rotates. This arm 103 is secured, at its other (or upper) end portion, to the shank of the nut and bolt assembly 26, `as by providing an axially-extending slot in the shank and force fitting this upper end portion into the slot. The hub is so positioned with reference to the slot 81 in the slotted member 78 that, when the slot is downward and substantially vertical, the arm 103 bears against the edge of the hub 101 to resiliently urge the latter to rotate.

With the latch arm 56 at the bottom of the slot 59, the door knobs 50 and 51 cannot be turned clockwise be cause of the engagement of the upper wing 44 of the cam member 43 with the shoulder 57 of the arm 56. Of course, counterclockwise rotation of the knobs is preventedv y(except for the Very slight turn to raise the projection 98 to engage the grooves 79 and 83 and smooth portions 80l and 8,4 of the slotted members 78 and 82). When the arm 56 is raised to a position intermediate the ends of the slot 59, the indoor knob 50 may be turned clockwise and the closure A opened, since the upper wing 44 will now move in an arc clockwise and the lower wing 44 will urge the body portion 32 to the left in Fig. 2, against pressure of the spring 42 but when the knob 50 is released, the spring 42 will tend to restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2, relooking the closure A. Of course, as stated heretofore, if the arm 56 is raised to its uppermost position in the slot 59 and the `walls at the narrower upper part of the slot wall, in conjunction with the spring arm 60 bearing against one of these walls, will retain the arm 56l against dropping and the closure A will remain unlocked.

The visual method of dialing is believed clear from the foregoing description of the dialing means 65 with the added explanation that, of course, the operator is aware of the indicium 67 which must align with the point of the guide member 77 and rotates the dial disc 66, employing a convenient projection 68, until there is this alignment. This will position the slot 81 to open downwardly. He now holds the disc 66 steady by placing a finger tip on the nearest projection 68 and rotates the dial disc 70 by means of the knob 72 until the arrow 71 points to the indicium 67 which he knows will align the slot 85 with the slot 81 and thus permit rotation of the knob 51 to raise the projection 98 which may now enter these two slots and permit the closure A to open.

In the event the visual method to operate the dialing means 65 cannot be employed, such as in darkness or by a blind operator, aligning of the slots 81 and 85 may be accomplished -by listening to the clicks caused, in turn, by the upper extremity of the projection 98 as the slotted members 78 and 82 are rotated in turn.

Referring now to the second closure C and second form D of the disc-dialing keyless lock, shown particularly in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive insofar as the latter differs from the form B, the closure C may be a conventional vertically hung door, including the outer face 105 thereof.

The lock D is exactly like the lock B insofar as the structure upon the inside of the door is concerned, the difference being in so far as the structure upon the outer face 105 is concerned. Where there are no changes, over the form B, in the last-mentioned structure of the form D, the exponent a will be employed to designate parts of the last-named structure substantially like corresponding parts of the structure of form B.

In the lock D, the upper horizontal border ange 20 of the form B is omitted in the form D and a removable flange 110 carrying, at its outermost end, a downwardlyextending guide member 111 is provided. The guide member 111, with its pointed lower end function as does the guide member 77. The flange is retained as is the plate of the guide member 77.

The first and second slotted members 112 and 113 of the form D differ from the members 78 and 82 in that the former are of substantially the same diameters, but are otherwise structurally the same as the members 78 and 82, and contain the slots 128 and 129 respectively, corresponding with the slots 81 and 85.

A radical departure from the form B resides in the structure illustrated at the upper portions of Figs. 6 and 7 and in Fig. 8. There is provided, in place of the resilient arm 103 with its upper end immovable and the resilient projection 98, an adjustable resilient arm 114, with its upper end movable, and a separate resilient bifurcated arm or projection 115 to engage the grooves of the members 112 and 113.

Means 116 to adjust the position of the arms 114 and 115 includes a shank portion 117, which may be rectangular in transverse section, provided with oppositely-disposed end portions 118 and 119, which are of. reduced width, compared with the shank portion 117. The end portion 118 may be cylindrical and slidably extends through a suitable opening in the vertical portion of the border flange of the body portion 121 of the lock plate 122. The end portion 119 may be cylindrical and slidably extends through an opening in the opposite vertical portion of the border liange 120 and be encircled by an expansion coil spring 123 with one end bearing against the inner face of the border ange 120 and its other end bearing against the shoulder formed at the juncture of the portions 117 and 119.

Depending from the portion 117 is the resilient bifurcated arm or projection 115 which, in effect, has one of the functions of the projection 98 in that it is adapted to bear at its bifurcated free end, against the peripheries of the slotted members 112 and 113 and having a lug 124 at its free end to ride in and out of the grooves 125 and 126 of the members 112 and 113 respectively.

AAlso depending from the portion 117 is the arm 114 which corresponds to the resilient arm 103 in that it is adapted to engage the periphery of the somewhat elliptical hub 127 of the slotted member 112 and the arm 114 and hub 127 function as do the arm 103 and hub 101. By finger pressure upon the outer end of the portion 118 where it projects from the flange 120, the means 116 may be slid to the right as in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and this causes the lugs 124 on the bifurcated ends of the arm 115 to engage the grooves 125 and 126 while the arm 114 is moved away from contact with the hub 127. However, when this pressure is released, the arm 114 will strike the periphery of the hub and cause partial rotation of the hub and its associated slotted member 112 and, consequently, the dial disc 66a for the same purpose as heretofore related in connection with the dial disc 66.

In the case of the lock D, the clicks referred to in connection with the form B will be heard only when the portion 118 is pressed inwardly.

The object of the smooth portions 80, 84, and 131 of the peripheries of the slotted members 78, 82, '112 and 113 respectively is to provide for a longer time period in which there are no clicks heard. This longer time interval provides a signal to the operator so that he will begin counting the correct number of clicks and then cease rotation of the associated dial discs 66, 70, 112 and 113 respectively, since this number of clicks will appraise him that the slots 81, 85, 128 and 129 respectively are positioned for entrance of the projection 98 or 98a as the case may be. Of course the other smooth portions between grooves 79, 83, 125 and 126 are short in length as compared with the portions 80, 84, 130 and 131.

Various changes may be made to the embodiments of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A disc-dialing keyless lock for a closure having side faces and an end face, said lock including a lock plate, said lock plate comprising a plate portion and a marginal flange for extending to a position to engage said one of said side faces, with said marginal flange including a substantially vertical portion having an arm-accommodating slot, narrow at its upper portion and wide at its lower portion; means adapted to secure said lock plate to said closure at one of said side faces; a latch spindle extending through said lock plate; bolt means carried by said lock plate and spindle, including a bolt member having a strike plate slot-entering outermost portion adapted to normally extend outwardly of said end face, a slidable body portion integral with said bolt member and provided with an elongated shoulder and an elongated slot with the longitudinal axis of said shoulder and elongated slot substantially normal to each other and with said spindle extending through said slot, means limiting the outward movement of said bolt member, a cam member to retract said bolt member, including a hub portion secured to said spindle and two wings extending radially from and rigid with said hub portion and disposed substantially 180 apart, each wing having a face in contact with said shoulder when said outermost portion is in its outermost position, and resilient means urging said shoulder against the faces of said wings and urging said slidable body portion toward said end face; latch means for releasably retaining said cam member against rotation in one direction to retract said bolt member, including a manuallyoperable arm pivoted at one end portion to said lock plate and extending through said arm-accommodating slot and outwardly of said lock plate, said arm, at an intermediate portion thereof, having a wing portion-engaging shoulder normally in engagement with said shoulder-engaging portion when both of said wings are contacting said shoulder of said slidable body portion and said arm being provided with spring means resiliently retaining said arm within only the upper portion of said arm accommodating slot, whereby said arm will drop by gravity when in said lower portion of said arm-accommodating slot but will be retained against dropping by gravity when in said upper portion of said arm-accommodating slot; a second lock plate; means adapted to secure said second lock plate to said closure at the other of said side faces thereof; disc-dialing means carried by said second lock plate, including two side-by-side discs, rotatable on the same axis and each provided with a slot extending radially from the outer periphery of the disc; and cam member control means, including a reciprocating projection, said last means being operatively associated with said discdialing means and said cam member to selectively prevent rotation of said cam member in a direction opposite to said one direction while said manually operable arm is in said lower portion of said arm-accommodating slot, and said reciprocating projection engages the outer peripheries of said discs, and to permit rotation of said cam member in said opposite direction when said reciprocating projection is in registration with both of said slots of said discs.

2. A disc-dialing keyless lock according to claim 1 characterized in that said cam member control means includes a vertically reciprocating plate, carried within said lock plate and provided with a vertically-extending slot and a lateral horizontally-extending slot opening into said vertically-extending slot, an arm ixedly mounted upon said latch spindle and provided with a pin extending into said lateral slot, with said latch spindle extending through and outwardly of said vertically-extending slot, said reciprocating projection being carried by said vertically reciprocating plate to extend upwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 82,104 French Sept. 15, 1868 148,451 Hall Mar. 10, 1874 183,738 Winslow et al Oct. 24, 1876 707,028 Simpson Aug. 12, 1902 733,790 Young et al. July 14, 1903 835,437 Katzenberger Nov. 6, 1906 1,240,981 Kohl Sept. 25, 1917 1,331,166 Ochsner Feb. 17, 1920 1,354,752 Horn et al. Oct. 5, 1920 1,559,228 Devereaux Oct. 27, 1925 1,655,840 Nichin Jan. 10, 1928 1,696,466 Westcott Dec. 25, 1928 1,707,413 Pendleton Apr. 2, 1929 2,637,195 Hurtel May 5, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 104,305 Australia June 21, 1938 431,733 Great Britain July 15, 1953 

